“Father and Son” performed by Cat Stevens

It’s not time to make a change
Just relax, take it easy
You’re still young, that’s your fault
There’s so much you have to know
Find a girl, settle down
If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old, but I’m happy

I was once like you are now
And I know that it’s not easy
To be calm when you’ve found
Something going on
But take your time, think a lot
Think of everything you’ve got
For you will still be here tomorrow
But your dreams may not

 

How can I try to explain?
When I do he turns away again
It’s always been the same, same old story
From the moment I could talk
I was ordered to listen
Now there’s a way
And I know that I have to go away
I know I have to go

 

It’s not time to make a change
Just sit down, take it slowly
You’re still young, that’s your fault
There’s so much you have to go through
Find a girl, settle down
If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old, but I’m happy

 

All the times that I’ve cried
Keeping all the things I knew inside
It’s hard, but it’s harder to ignore it
If they were right I’d agree
But it’s them they know, not me
Now there’s a way
And I know that I have to go away
I know I have to go

 

It is the sacred duty of fathers to teach their children lessons that will guide them through life. This is precisely the concept being advanced by the song “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens. The song was about a Russian boy who wants to go to war while his father wants him to stay in the safety of their home and farm. By virtue of the song’s subject and content, it could also be a good song to sing or play in a funeral service, especially if the departed one is a father to several grown-ups. This song aptly says that the best lesson in life that a father could leave his son is not to try to outdo others, but to always try to be the best that he can be.

 

You may notice that Stevens sings in a deeper register when he is doing the father’s lines, but uses a higher register when he does the son’s lines such as “from the moment I could talk, I was ordered to listen.” And the song ends….”I know I have to go.” You can say that these words could apply to both the father and the son. As such, you can also safely play this song in a son’s funeral service. For other songs that are appropriate for funeral service, please visit www.songmeanings.net.